Java Stream - sorted() With Examples

If you want to sort elements of a stream, Java Stream API provides sorted() method to do that. Actually there are two variants of sorted method with the syntax as given-

• sorted()- Returns a stream consisting of the elements of this stream, sorted according to natural order.
• sorted(Comparator<? super T> comparator)- Returns a stream consisting of the elements of this stream, sorted according to the provided Comparator.

sorted() in Java Stream is a stateful intermediate operation meaning it may incorporate state from previously seen elements when processing new elements.

sorted() method Java examples

1. Stream of integers sorted in natural order.

import java.util.Arrays;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.stream.Stream;

public class StreamSortDemo {
  public static void main(String[] args) {
    List<Integer> numList = Arrays.asList(7, 5, 18, -11, 22, -8);
    Stream<Integer> sortedStream = numList.stream().sorted();
    sortedStream.forEach(System.out::println);
  }
}

Output

-11
-8
5
7
18
22

2. Sorting a list of strings using sorted() method of Java Stream

public class StreamSortDemo {
  public static void main(String[] args) {
    List<String> strList = Arrays.asList("Mumbai", "Bangalore", "London", "Berlin", "Chicago");
    strList.stream().sorted().forEach(System.out::println);
  }
}

Output

Bangalore
Berlin
Chicago
London
Mumbai

3. The above examples use the sorted() method where elements of the stream are sorted using the natural ordering you can also pass the Comparator to sort as per the given Comparator. For example sorting the list of integers in reverse order.

public class StreamSortDemo {
  public static void main(String[] args) {
    List<Integer> numList = Arrays.asList(7, 5, 18, -11, 22, -8);
    numList.stream().sorted(Comparator.reverseOrder()).forEach(System.out::println);
  }
}

Output

22
18
7
5
-8
-11

4. In this example we’ll see how to sort user defined class objects using sorted() method. The class whose objects are to be sorted can implement Comparable to define natural ordering.

public class Employee implements Comparable<Employee>{
  private String empId;
  private int age;
  private String name;
  private char gender;
  private int salary;
  Employee(String empId, int age, String name, char gender, int salary){
    this.empId = empId;
    this.age = age;
    this.name = name;
    this.gender = gender;
    this.salary = salary;
  }
  public String getEmpId() {
    return empId;
  }

  public int getAge() {
    return age;
  }

  public String getName() {
    return name;
  }

  public char getGender() {
    return gender;
  }

  public int getSalary() {
    return salary;
  }
  @Override
  public String toString() {
    return "Emp Id: " +  getEmpId() + " Name: " 
    + getName() + " Age: " + getAge();
  }
  @Override
  public int compareTo(Employee employee) {
    return this.getName().compareTo(employee.getName());
  }
}

In the compareTo() method implementation comparison is done on name so that is the natural ordering for the Employee class objects.

public class StreamSortDemo {
  public static void main(String[] args) {
    List<Employee> empList = Arrays.asList(new Employee("E001", 40, "Ram", 'M', 5000), 
                new Employee("E002", 35, "Shelly", 'F', 7000), 
                new Employee("E003", 40, "Remington", 'M', 5000), 
                new Employee("E004", 37, "Bianca", 'F', 11000),
                new Employee("E005", 35, "Dominic", 'M', 7000), 
        new Employee("E006", 28, "Amanda", 'F', 14000));
    List<Employee> sortedList = empList.stream().sorted().collect(Collectors.toList());
    for(Employee employee : sortedList) {
      System.out.println(employee);
    }  
  }
}

Output

Emp Id: E006 Name: Amanda Age: 28
Emp Id: E004 Name: Bianca Age: 37
Emp Id: E005 Name: Dominic Age: 35
Emp Id: E001 Name: Ram Age: 40
Emp Id: E003 Name: Remington Age: 40
Emp Id: E002 Name: Shelly Age: 35

5. Using sorted() method where Comparator is passed as an argument to sort custom objects. For example if you want the List of employees sorted by age.

public class StreamSortDemo {
  public static void main(String[] args) {
    List<Employee> empList = Arrays.asList(new Employee("E001", 40, "Ram", 'M', 5000), 
                new Employee("E002", 35, "Shelly", 'F', 7000), 
                new Employee("E003", 40, "Remington", 'M', 5000), 
                new Employee("E004", 37, "Bianca", 'F', 11000),
                new Employee("E005", 35, "Dominic", 'M', 7000), 
        new Employee("E006", 28, "Amanda", 'F', 14000));
    List<Employee> sortedList = empList.stream().sorted(
                (e1, e2) -> e1.getAge()-e2.getAge())
                .collect(Collectors.toList());
    for(Employee employee : sortedList) {
      System.out.println(employee);
    }  
  }
}

Output

Emp Id: E006 Name: Amanda Age: 28
Emp Id: E002 Name: Shelly Age: 35
Emp Id: E005 Name: Dominic Age: 35
Emp Id: E004 Name: Bianca Age: 37
Emp Id: E001 Name: Ram Age: 40
Emp Id: E003 Name: Remington Age: 40

That's all for this topic Java Stream - sorted() With Examples. If you have any doubt or any suggestions to make please drop a comment. Thanks!

>>>Return to Java Advanced Tutorial Page

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